The Portland daily press., 1887-03-28


private letter written by a Portland girl
from Nice where she experienced the horrors
Of the recent earthquake. The name WILDE
readily guessed by the lady's friends
PARIs, Feb. ?6. 1887.
1t had been the week Of the carnival, and
the whole city was running wild. aided by
thousands Of visitors and Its reyelling cul-
minated In mask ball, which / attended.
we came in at o'clock A. NJ, and being
tired fell into heavy sleep.
About six O'Clock l was awakened by
terrible br,I shaking; and sprang out Of bed half
steady myself. The trembling died away
and sank into a chair half afraid, and half
nos, but had not time to decide which, be-
fore the shaking was renewed with re-
/ never shall forget the horrible sensation
experienced In being hurled against the
bed, the room swaying back and forth, the
walls cracking, the windows rattlIng and |
In terror, every minute expecting the walls
to fall
threw on wrapper and rushed into the
parlors where found my friends who were
frantic for the safety Of other friends lodged
In another part OF the hotel, whom they
sought leaving me alone. l employed the
calm in dressing.
Scarcely had they left when another shock
came. but lighter and rushed into the hall
to find people rushing from all directions,
some In their night Clothes some half
dressed, some with blankets thrown around
them, pale, terrified, shrieking. weeping and
rushing into the street: reached my friends
by the time the trembling ceased, and was
settled down in the court to await-the next.
After the first panic was somewhat subsidized,
all took q cup Of coffee, and made some ad-
ditions to our toilet In the way of eombing
our hair-.but another shock at 8 o'clock sent
N Ia0 int fha
as that place de Messina" presented!
Thousands Of people we're there from the
Count somebody to the no account some
body, also the wealthy nobody to the poor
beggar-but some way all distinctions were
leyelled In the cOpmOn terror.
1t was pitiful to see the poor people who
had evidently seized the most cared-for
thing, some had bird cage, another a par
rot, another an ugly dog, or an uglier eat,
while many poor frantic mother pressed
her baby to her breast with scarcely any
clothing to protect 1t from the chilly morn
ing air.
The shocks were repeated during the day
at intervals, but with less force, so there
was a comparative calm towards night, al
though thousands left the city for Paris and
the north.
That night, those who remained at our hO-
tel had lounges, and cots, and chairs, In the
rotunda and In the dining rooms opening
from 1t and slept there. About O'Clock an
oshci snock dIOuscu Us, auu the paulc OF the
day. before was passed through again, but
with greater force. Can you Imagine what
1t must be to people who were already
worn, tired and excited, TO be aroused from
a troubled sleep by shrieks and cries, ming
led with rattling of glass and stampede
that made 1t seem as il the very earth itself
was slipping from under our feet. Iwant
IL strictly understood that during the hub
bub never screamed once. and only gave
but one ''oh dear" and that low, 20 myself,
In the first moment when the terrible truth
that II was an earthquake, forced itself upon
my mind, but l am willing to confess that II
l had remained In Nice another day / must
have been crazy. Even now, when am In
lovely Paris, when am half asleep, heavy
carriage rolling by In the street will bring
me up in bed with my heart beating enough
to suffocate me, and a cold perspiration
starting from every pore. Two or three in
valids died from the fright, and few from
falling timbers. HELEN VI.